Radium needle structure



S. M. WITHERS RADIUM NEEDLE STRUCTURE March 30 1926. 1,578,945 I Filed Jan. 8, 1923 Patented Mar. 30, 1926 i SANFORD uwnrnnns;

or' nnnvnn; oo 'onAnoQ 7 RADIUM NEEDLE. s'r tvo'runn.

- Application filed January 8, 1923. Serial 115, 11, 1. I

To all whom it maly concern: V

Be it known that I, SANFORD M.'-WrrHisRs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city and county of Denver, State "of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Radium Needle Structures; and I do declare the'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which .form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a radium needle wherein the weak point of connection of the charge-carrying portion or body of the needle with the closure portion is so located asto prevent any appreciable amount of strain on said point during use and to thereby avoid breakage during use.

Heretofore the clnrge-carrying portions of radium needles have been integral with the point and the closure which has been an eye piece or a handle has been hard soldered to the charge-carrying body. As the hard soldering, produces a weak spot along the needle in the vicinityof the joint, a limited amount of strainmay result in breaking ofi' the eye piece or handle from the body.

Thisdifliculty has been overcome, by making the eye piece or handle integral with the charge-carrying body, and closing the outer end of the body by hard soldering. The

point is either hard soldered in position, or is threaded on for the purpose of changing points. In the latter instance a plug is hard soldered to the body to form the closure; In

either event, the weak point of the needle is placed close to the end thereof, whereby it will be impossible to produce sufficient leverage during use to cause breakage at the weak point caused by the soldering operation.

In the accompanying drawings wherein certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed,

v Fig.- 1 shows a portion of a needle in which the charge-receivingv cavity has been formed and on which a funnel has been turned to assist the filling operation;

b Fig. 2 shows said cavity filled and an asbestosretainlng wad in position;

V Fig. 3 is an elevation of a point to be hard" soldered in the end of the charge receiving portion or body; I

Fig. 4 shows the funnel cut oil and the point hard soldered in position;

Fig. 5 indicates a modification wherein a I separate plug will 'besoldere'd in position, "and the point secured as maybe desired;

. Fig. 6 shows a form wherein the plug of Fig. 5 is threaded-for removably receiving various types of points;

a-Figs. and 8 show. two forms of points adapted to be threaded on the construction of Fig. 6;

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevations of needles haying long handles 0r stems on'which the f points are respectively hard soldered and threaded; p i Fig. 11- represents a point to be used interchangeably with that of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail showinga threaded point assembled on a short needle .havlng an eye Fig. 13 shows a modification wherein the point is threaded onto the body of the needle. The body of the needle indicated at 10 is shown as having ,a long stem orhandle, except in the form of Fig.12 where the usual short needle is shown provided with a short shank having an eye as seen at 120. In

forming the needle the required length of metal rod for the entire" needle desired is used, and a funnel is turned thereon at 12 to assist in filling the radium-receiving cavity 14-. which is drilled into the end of the rod.

After the radium charge 15 has been placed awad of asbestos 16 is positioned on top of the charge to retain the same, and the funnel 12 is sawed off on the line a. In the form of Figs. 3 and 4, a plug 18 integral with apoint 20 is hard soldered into the end of the radium receiving cavity.

The hard soldering operation forms .a weak or brittle zone indicatedat 22 in the region of the joint which would be apt to breakif suflicient leverage were produced about the zone. But by reason of the location of thiszone close to the point rather than on the opposite side of the body portion which contains the radium, it will be impossible in ordinary use forsuch breakage to occur. V

In the form of Fig. 5, a separate plug 24 may be hard soldered in position, and in the formof Fig. 6 this plug 24 may be threaded at 25 for receiving the threaded portion '26 of the points 20 and 21 of Figs. 7 and 8.

This form also brings the weakzone 22. close to the point. for the same purpose as the other form. 'Fig. 9 shows the entire long.

' handled needle having a point 20 hard solderedthereomand Fig. 10 shows alike needle with a threaded point 20 thereon; adapted to be replaced by the point 21 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail showing the assembled form of Figs. -6 ,-7 -and-8--applied to a short needle having the commoneyehpieoe. 120 integral with the body 10. In'thi'sform the plug 24 is hard-soldered to body lO-aand the Weak zone 22 is thereby located close to the point as in the other-forms. 1F ig.f13 shows a further; slight modification wherein the plug 30is hard; solclerecl.inposition entirely' Within the; body portion-:10, said body portion being'threaded at 32 for reception of the point 20 ora point .21 like thatof Fig.1.

Thus, in all forms the Weak, 1 brittle zone formed by the hard soldering operation is placed close to the end of theneedlewhere no strain can ordinarily be produced sufficient to cause a break.

"I claim .lhArltardium needle having a radium receiving cavity, a permanent closure forone end of said .woavity, said Closure being obtained as by soldering, and a point removably mounted adjaoent'said end.

:12. \A radium needle having aradiumreceivingcavity, a permanent closure for one end. of: said. eavity,a a. point! removablymounteat-adjacent said. endg-and anintegral nianipulating portion-at theotherend.

Iii-testimonyWhereofI affix my signature.

SANFORD M. VVITHERS. 

